Our history - The historical website of the Montreal Canadiens

THE REGULAR SEASON

The Depression is at its peak at the outset of the 1935-36 season and international tensions are on the rise. The team’s financial situation is not spared from the economy’s problems and owners Leo Dandurand and Joe Cattarinich struggle to keep the red ink from flowing.

In a bid to get the franchise back in the black, Dandurand asks the league for permission to suspend operations for one year, but the request is denied, particularly because of the Canadiens’ ability to draw crowds throughout the league.

Dandurand and his partner have no other choice than to sell the team to the Canadian Arena Company, which already owns the Montreal Maroons.

Team captain Sylvio Mantha takes over as coach from Dandurand, who had to step into that role for the second half of the previous season following Newsy Lalonde’s resignation. The new owners make a number of deals to try to bolster the team, without much success.

In a rare ray of hope, the team re-acquires goalie Lorne Chabot and trades him to the Maroons in exchange for Bill Miller and a promising young player, Toe Blake.

In November, Mantha appears in his 500th career game with the Canadiens. One month later, Aurele Joliat becomes the first Habs player to record 400 points in the NHL.

The Canadiens finish the season last in the league with a disappointing 11-26-11 record. As a result, they miss the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

The team scores just 82 times in 48 games, allowing its opponents 123 goals in that same time. Right winger Leroy Goldsworthy leads the team in scoring with 15 goals and 26 points.